Species identification of osseous museum artefacts through peptide mass fingerprinting illustrated by a study on objects from Neolithic to Iron Age Armenia
Abstract Identifying animal species used in osseous industry production is crucial for reconstructing human-animal interactions in ancient societies. However, bone artefact manufacture often involves intensive modifications to raw materials that hamper taxonomic identifications. Here, for the first time in central Eurasia, we taxonomically assess bone objects stored in museum collections, recovered from Late Neolithic to Iron Age contexts in Armenia, using a minimally invasive peptide mass fingerprinting technique, also known as Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS). Our pilot study shows remarkable collagen preservation in the bone artefacts, demonstrating the rich potential of ZooMS for examining legacy collections. The successful ZooMS screening provided taxonomic identification for 86% of the artefacts, offering insights into species selection for bone manufacturing, as well as broader socioeconomic developments and interregional links. Our study underscores the utility of minimally invasive proteomic techniques, enabling the preservation of cultural and historical artefacts while addressing limitations of studying museum collections.
Authors
- Ashot Piliposyan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7367-5250)
- Nzhdeh Yeranyan
- Mariam Amiryan
- Ani Adigyozalyan
- Hakob Simonyan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5194-4262)
- Roshan Paladugu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4954-6752)
- Hasmik Simonyan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7763-339X)
- Noel Amano (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7871-2230)
- Marina Évora (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2422-743X)
- Արսեն Բոբոխյան (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2277-8281)
- Kristine Martirosyan-Olshansky (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1896-9085)
- Mariami Eloshvili
- Ruben Davtyan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0464-161X)
- Patrick Roberts (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4403-7548)
- Tigran Zakyan
- Levon Yepiskoposyan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6113-2072)
- Zaruhi Khachatryan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8357-5181)
- Noushig Zarikian (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8334-8413)
- Svetlana Poghosyan
- Mariya Antonosyan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4804-6449)
- Mariam Saribekyan
- Satenik Mkrtchyan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6841-5622)
- Anahit Hovhannisyan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0617-4469)
- Vahe Sargsyan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9569-2569)
- Mikayel Badalyan
- Andranik Gyonjyan
- Anahit Telunts
- Karine Stepanyan
Institutions
- Ministry of Culture (IN)
- Ilia State University (GE)
- Yerevan State University (AM)
- Universidade Aberta (PT)
- Trinity College Dublin (IE)
- Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology (AM)
- Institute of Archaeology (RU)
- Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation (AM)
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (DE)
- Landesamt für Archäologie Sachsen (DE)
- Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography (AM)
- Institute of Molecular Biology (AM)
- Erebouni Medical Center (AM)
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History (DE)
- Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology
- University of Algarve (PT)
- National Academy of Sciences of Armenia (AM)
Publication Details
- Journal
- npj Heritage Science
- Published
- 2025-05-10
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s40494-025-01763-2
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 8.27
Funders
- Max-Planck-Gesellschaft